Locked Out with the Motor Running

[Big Jon]

I managed to do the impossible yesterday morning and wanted to see any anybody else has managed to do what I did, and what, if anything, you can do to kill the engine with the keys locked inside of the truck. Here's what happened:



As I climbed into the truck, keys in hand, I bumped the remote lock button as I head the horn chirp. Leaving the door open so I could see (it was 4:30AM) I started the truck. I then noticed I had a garbage bag that needed emptying, and grabbed it, jumped out, shut the door, dumped the bag, and came back to a completely locked up truck.



Luckily, I was home and the spare keys were inside. But this whole episode begs a question if I was someplace without a spare set of keys on me. Is there anyway to kill the engine from the outside (remember, the hood release is locked inside with the keys)? Otherwise, the thing would sit there idling for God knows how long until I got the truck open.



Time to break a window under those circumstances?



Thanks,



Jon

 

[Jar Head]

Zip-tie a spare key somewhere on the frame and your problems are solved.

 

[Gordon Maney]

I had this very thing happen with my V-10 powered 1999 Ram truck. I stood outside the truck, shut the door, and watched the door lock plunger through the window as it went down and locked the door. I have no explanation as to how it happened. I was parked along side a highway, more than a mile from home. I never touched the power lock switch on the door when i was inside.



Now I carry a key in my wallet, as well as another key on my other keyring in my pocket

 

[illflem]

A spare key is the best but if you don't have one a hacksaw blade or even a butter knife can be used to pop the latch on the rear slider window with no damage. Hardest part may be crawling through it depending on your size.

 

[GFoley]

Lock Out

I bumped the PL switch as I got out once and closed the door. Locked Out! Fortunately, the wife and a spare key was just a call away.



Then we had to move to MN. In preparation I had another key cut. That way I can start the truck, leave it locked and running and continue getting ready or letting it warm up.



I carry one on the regular key ring with the rest of the keys and they stay in the LF pocket, Operating key stay in RF pocket.

 

[jqram35]

I think we have all done that at one time or another just embarrassing to admit it!

 

[Joe G.]

There's a reason I carry an extra key in my wallet!

 

[Straight6Jeff]

a couple of months ago, I started my truck to get the a/c going as it was really hot. I grabbed my spare clothes out of my bag and threw the conteds of all of my pockets into the console. I just finnished putting a c/v joint in my buddy's truck at his house, so I wanted to change. being that I was in a strange neighborhood, i locked the truck because my wallet was in the console.



As the door was closing, I realized that the keys were in it. So I stuck my hand into the door to keep it from closing. Problem was that only my finger tips made it in... . OUCH. I quickly realized that the spare keys were both in the wallet and the backpack which were in the truck



A coat hanger was used to catch the lock and open it about 20 minutes later. A cold beer solved the aching fingers

 

[Dennis Garrett]

Well, let's think about what you'd do fi you DON'T have a spare key or a way to get one. Is there any way you can shut the Cummins off from underneath? Is it possible to get ahold of the fuel cut-off selinoid & get it shut off? Can you pinch or crimp a rubber fuel line? Could you pull off the outlet hose coming out of the intercooler & smother it with rags? I'd hate to see mine idle all day waiting for the wife to bring me my spare keys.

 

[DRR-24V]

Far be it from me to gossip, but a fellow TDR member (Gunny S) at our annual NRA shoot got locked out of his rig TWICE in 2 weeks. When he got back to CA. the AAA people called and offered him a free wallet key, just out of the blue.

 

[illflem]

Assuming you can get under the hood, just disconnect the wires to the fuel shut off solenoid. Never tried it on a Ram but on many other rigs you can open the hood by pulling or pushing on the cable that unlocks it with a screw driver or stick. Disconnecting the fuel line from the tank would be the next best thing, just make sure you don't get the return line, you might take a diesel bath!! I don't recall enough fuel line to kink it.

 

[carhauler]

I too found myself locked out before. So what I do now is always leave ign key under floormat and that way the remote is on my belt loop at all times. People say Im crazy for leaving the key in it but the way I figure it is Thats why I pay insurance. Oh by the way the key I leave in the truck is a spare just incase it ever is stolen that way I can show the ins co I have both original keys in my posession

 

[joesoot]

I had this happen to me about 5 weeks ago, called Chrysler's Free Roadside Assistance, they sent a tow truck, I was parked in the loading dock of the Wells Fargo building(was 5 am) the tow truck didn't show for about an hour, then he finally showed and he couldn't get it open... slim jim, plastic wedge, and some weird metal wire... none worked... meanwhile the building engineer comes up and asks who the truck belongs to and say I'll give you 15 minutes to get the truck outta here whether you've broken back into it or not, and told the tow truck driver to tow my truck out and dump it on the curb... driver said no...

Grabbed a suspended ceiling wire and put a "noose" on the end, wedged the sliding rear window with the plastic wedge "doorstop" and slid the ceiling wire into the cab and fished the loop onto the passenger door handle and pulled... . what a relief!

After and hour and a half of idling I was finally in!

Least I learned something right?

Sorry so long

I now have a plastic doorstop and piece of ceiling wire in the bed JIC

 

[cap-n-cray]

Locked out at the dealer

I had owned my truck for about two weeks. I was at the dealer getting the front end aligned for the second time. The truck was parked in the service line and I shut the door. You guessed it, locked the truck with the keys in the ignition. Took all of three minutes for them to read the vin number and make a key. Gave me the key as a spare. May be I should change the locks.

 

[Cooker]

Been there done this many more times than I'd like to admit.



I second the coat hanger option.

I also second the 2 keys, one in each pocket option.

I also second unlock the rear slider with a rigid, thin object.



The key in each pocket has worked best for me.



-Ryan

 

[Lurch]

When I'm on the road I don't shut down for fuel stops, rest areas etc. I got a spare made and use that in the ignition switch so I can keep my keys in my pocket. Fairly large collection, you know it's there.



Lurch

 

[MidwestMotorman]

shutting her down

You could pinch the fuel line at the fuel tank. I think you would have to reach over top of the tank. You might be able to unplug the lift pump and then try to starve the motor out. Might be a little hard on the VP44 though. I think the throttle cables are fully shielded so you can't pull on them from the bottom. Otherwise you could grab it and rev it up to the automatic shutdown. All of these ideas are assuming that you can't get the hood open.



From personal experience, breaking into the slider is the easiest way, if you have a slider.

 

[lschultz]

Back in 83 when I had Chevy with electric door locks I did it. Had quite a few beers in me. Stopped to take a leak. Closed door and and it was locked. I was just about ready to bust back window but a friend of mine lived about 1. 5 down rode so I walked to his house and he got coat hanger and was able to unlock it. It was cold that night too,wind blowing. But after reading all these I think I'll start carrying my spare or put it under truck somewhere. Don't drink anymore but I'm quite a bit older and you know what happens.

 

[Mopar-muscle]

i've done it a couple times , once at the gas station , filled it up and went to get it ... dooooh ... wife was not home , the police officer offered to run me home ( was about 1. 5miles from the house) to get the spare but i couldn't get into the house . took him about 10 mins to slim jim the door . i need to hide a key somewhere under it ...

 

[QRTRHRS]

I have two keys clipped together so I can lock the truck while leaving it run at a store or whatever. So, one sloppy wet day last winter, I back up to a loading dock leaving the truck running but open. Get my truck loaded, go to get in, doors locked. Guy gave me a piece of cardboard to lay on for retrieving yet another key in a magnetic box under the truck.



Found out from these forums that the truck will lock while running if you hit the button twice. Turned out it was my wife that did the deed.